Ashes 2023 | Woakes, Moeen Ali Dismantle Australia As England Level Series In Broad’s Fairytale Farewell

Chris Woakes celebrates Steve Smith's wicket on tense Day 5 (Twitter)

A raging start by the Australian openers was squandered away by a spirited English fightback on the final day of the 2023 Ashes decider.

Australia, resuming Day 5 at 135-0, required another 249 runs to seal the series 3-1. Hosts, on the other hand, disrupted visitors’ party by claiming all 10 wickets in the day to draw level the series, thus giving outbound speedster Stuart Broad a fitting end to his illustrious journey for England.

Woakes, Ali, Broad inspire dramatic end to 2023 Ashes

Australian openers, David Warner and Usman Khawaja, fresh off their unbeaten half-centuries from Day 4, took guard at the crease on the fifth morning in pursuit of another 249 runs. As it turns out, the two cricketers failed to capitalise on their overnight start as they both succumbed to Chris Woakes’ swing within the opening hour of the day.

The speedster returned to curtail Steve Smith’s threatening stay in the middle, while Mark Wood chipped in with a wicket off Marnus Labuschagne.

Just as Australia regained stability in a tense run-chase, a triple strike by English spinner Moeen Ali soon reduced them to 294-8. Mitchell Marsh, one of the victims of Ali’s three-wicket burst, fell prey to a sensational grab by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.

Australian stumper Alex Carey kept the chase alive for nearly another hour while batting with the tail, before Stuart Broad snatched away the final two wickets of the innings to seal an incredible 49-run win for England.

The match also marked the final international appearance for pace legend Broad, and he finished his final Ashes assignment by becoming his country’s highest wicket-taker of the series.

Brief Scores:

England: 283 all out (54.4)
Harry Brook 85 (91), Ben Duckett 41 (41)
Mitchell Starc 4-82 (14.4), Todd Murphy 2-22 (6)

Australia: 295 all out (103.1)
Steve Smith 71 (123), Usman Khawaja 47 (157)
Chris Woakes 3-61 (25), Stuart Broad 2-49 (20)

England: 395 all out (81.5)
Joe Root 91 (106), Jonny Bairstow 78 (103)
Mitchell Starc 4-100 (20), Todd Murphy 4-110 (22.5)

Australia: 334 all out (94.4)
Usman Khawaja 72 (145), David Warner 60 (106)
Chris Woakes 4-50 (19), Moeen Ali 3-76 (23)

England won by 49 runs, levels series 2-2

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